Every Man a Hero

A Memoir of D-Day, the First Wave at Omaha Beach, and a World at War

By: Ray Lambert, Jim DeFelice

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

An extraordinary and unforgettable new firsthand account of D-Day.

Seventy-five years ago, he hit Omaha Beach with the first wave. Now, Ray Lambert, 98 years old, delivers one of the most remarkable memoirs of our time, a tour de force of remembrance evoking his role as a decorated World War II medic who risked his life to save the heroes of D-Day.

At five a.m. on June 6, 1944, US Army Staff Sergeant Ray Lambert worked his way through a throng of nervous soldiers to a windswept deck on a troopship off the coast of Normandy, France. A familiar voice cut through the wind and rumble of the ship’s engines. “Ray!” called his brother, Bill. Ray, head of a medical team for the First Division’s famed 16th Infantry Regiment, had already won a silver star in 1943 for running through German lines to rescue trapped men, one of countless rescues he’d made in North Africa and Sicily.

“This is going to be the worst yet,” Ray told his brother, who served alongside him throughout the war.

“If I don’t make it,” said Bill, “take care of my family.”

“I will,” said Ray. He thought about his wife and son - a boy he had yet to see. “Same for me.” The words were barely out of Ray’s mouth when a shout came from below.

To the landing craft!

The brothers parted. Their destinies lay 10 miles away, on the bloodiest shore of Normandy, a plot of Omaha Beach ironically code-named “Easy Red”.

Less than five hours later, after saving dozens of lives and being wounded at least three separate times, Ray would lose consciousness in the shallow water of the beach under heavy fire. He would wake on the deck of a landing ship to find his battered brother clinging to life next to him.

Every Man a Hero is the unforgettable story not only of what happened in the incredible and desperate hours on Omaha Beach, but of the bravery and courage that preceded them, throughout the Second World War - from the sands of Africa, through the treacherous mountain passes of Sicily, and beyond to the greatest military victory the world has ever known.

©2019 Ray Lambert and Jim DeFelice (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Engaging!

I started off only listening in the car while driving then I found myself craving to listen while at a desk!

I enjoyed being right there with Mr. Lambert as his adventures took him all over the world. It has definitely sparked my interest to hear more about the war from the perspective of a soldier.

Battlefield Injuries and those who treat

Great story and well worth the read. This story tells a new side not usually covered by most WW II books.

Highly recommend!

Great story told so well! I appreciate when a narrator tells a story and isn’t just reading to me. I highly recommend.

Great book with a grest narrator.

This is a great book, and I felt like Ray himself was reading it to me!

Poignant

Narration is clear and melancholy.

Story is of a particular man’s long, happy, eventful life, both joyous and sad.

Everyone Should Read This

If we loose or do not teach history, then not only are we destined to repeat it, we become a selfish, ungrateful people who do not adequately acknowledge what sacrifices came before us to give us what we have now. Additionally, we become spoiled and stupid.

This is an important story. Excellently written in a way that I could realistically visualize what was going on (without the story becoming dry, as histories often do), but also I could precisely envision the realism of Ray in those moments as a typical American boy being just…himself, in the middle of a horrific war. He deserves our respect, recognition, and praise, although he probably wouldn’t care to have it or not. He’s just humble like that.

Ray Lambert IS a Hero

Never forget. Ray Lambert will make sure we never do and are forever grateful for our heroes.

Honest review of a horrific time

Gives you a real sense of what life was like. The words paint pictures in your mind of what really went on. It’s a quick read but powerful.

Yes, They are Heros

Mr. Lamber and DeFelice wrote this wonderful account of his and the rest of the Medics under his direction.
Mr. Kaleo Griffith is an excellent narrator. He added so much to the story.
The story is of course set in WWII with all of its glory and heartbreak.
Being a medical company the men were required to take care of wounded soldiers. This meant going into the heat of the battle protecting the wounded man and trying to save his life. All this while not getting killed himself.
Mr. Lambert and DeFelice faced the daunting task of setting up an aid station as close to the front as possible.
We follow Mr. Lambert all around the battlefields and read of the heroics of him and his team.
We also hear about the men who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
A great personal journey that is well worth the time to listen to or read.

Excellent Book

We should never forget what the Allies did during WWII. Too bad their effort isn’t a better motivator for today’s “Weakest Generation!”